Sheffield retain 'Purple Flag' status for 11th year
Sheffield has once again won a national award for the City Centre Evening & Night-Time Economy that recognises it as a safe and enjoyable place to go for a night out. An award it has held and renewed on an annual basis since 2012.
The Purple Flag award is a scheme that recognises excellence in the evening and night-time economy and is similar to the Green Flag for parks and green spaces, for which Sheffield are proud to have sixteen sites with Green Flag status.
The Purple Flag scheme, run by the Association of Town and City Management, is an internationally recognised accreditation with judges assessing the city centre on a range of criteria including:
- Personal safety
- Cleanliness
- Transport
- Attractiveness and appeal
- Arts and cultural offer
- How welcoming they are
- Strength of partnership working
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Waste & Street Scene Committee said: " I’m tremendously proud of all the work council officers, local venues and businesses and the police have put in to making our city centre a great place to visit.
"From music, theatre and the arts to food and drink from all over the world, including investments in safe and attractive public spaces, we can be really proud of our city.
"This didn’t happen overnight, but by bringing together our collective innovation and planning and by working in partnership, we have been able to create a destination that lights up a city after dark."
The scheme, which is backed by the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers, provides research, training, and development to helps towns and cities tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour.
To be awarded Purple Flag status, the city must demonstrate how it works in partnership and showcase processes in place to minimise any risks identified with the early evening and night-time economy.
Purple Flag towns and cities can expect to benefit from lower crime and anti-social behaviour, and more visitors.